Automatic gas cut-off.



v M. F. NICHOLS. AUTOMATIC GAS CUT-OFF.

APPLIGATION FILED APR.26, 1907.

Patented Dec. 8, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

M. F. NICHOLS. AUTOMATIG GAS GUT-OFF.

APPLIGATION FILED APR. 26. 1907.

906,152. I Patented Dec.8,1908. I I zsnms-snmfz.

V i Z/ MARCUS r. NICHOLS, or oswAYo, PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIC GAS cur-OFF.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. '8, 1908.

Application filed April 26, 1907. Serial No. 370,494.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARCUS F. NICHOLS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Oswayo, in the county of Potter and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Gas Cut-Offs; and I 'do hereby declare that the following is a clear and exact description thereof.

This invention relates to out off valves and has for its object to provide means for automatically cutting off the supply of gas in the service pipe should the pressure fall below a predetermined point, thereby to prevent the continued flow of gas at the burner tip after the light has been extinguished with a consequent loss of life or injury to the occupants of the building.

A still further object of the invention is generally to improve this class of devices so as to increase their utility, durability and efficiency.

Further objects and advantages will appear in the following description, it being understood that various changes in form, proportions and minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification: Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of an automatic out off valve constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the valve detached, one of the yieldable walls or slides of the valve being shown adjacent thereto. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line4-4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view illustrating a modified form of the invention.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all of the figures of the drawings.

The improved valve forming the subject matter of the present invention includes spaced casings 5 and 6 connected by an inclined pipe 7 and provided with interior chambers 8 and 8, theopposite ends of the casings being threaded for engagement with detachable caps or closures 9, as shown.

Threaded in one wall of the casing 5 is a supply pipe 10 through which gas is admitted to the chamber 8, there being a turning plug or valve 11 connected in the supply pipe 10 for controlling the flow of gas to the chamber of the casing 5.

Slidably mounted in the chamber of the casing 5 is a valve 12 including a hollow frame preferably formed of metal and having its side walls provided with vertically disposed openings 12 which are closed by removable slides 13. The slides 13 are preferably formed of rubber, leather or other yieldable material and are provided with "oppositely disposed inclined edges 14 which en gage dove tailed guiding grooves 15 formed in the walls of the slide receiving openings.

The upper end of the valve frame or casing is closed while the lower end thereof is provided with an opening 16 through which gas or other fluid is admitted to the interior of the hollow valve, the pressure of the gas on the walls of the slides 13 serving to expand the latter in frictional contact with the adjacent walls of the casing 5 thereby to hold the valve in elevated or open position.

Extending through the bottom of the valve casing 5 is a pipe section 17, the opposite end of which communicates with the supply pipe 10 on one side of the turning plug or valve 11, there being a similar turning plug or valve 18 operatin within the pipe or bypass 17 for control ing the flow of fluid through the bottom of the casing 5 into the chamber 8.

The interior walls of the casing 5 at the inlet port 19 are cut away to form a recess 20 in which is pivotally mounted a valve 21, the upper surface of which is preferably corrugated, as shown, said valve being movable to the dotted line position show-11in Fig. 1 of the drawings so as to form a closure for the port 19 when the pressure of the gas is reduced or entirely out 01f.

Threaded in the upper cap 9 of the casing 5 is a pet cook or vent 22' which communicates with the chamber 8 so as to ermit the escape of gas from said chamber a ove the valve 12 and thus ermit the latter to be readily moved to e evated or open position.

It will thus be seenthat when the turning plug 11 is closed and the turning plug '18 moved to open position, gas from the main supply pipe will flow through the by pass 17 and into the chamber 8, the pressure of the gas moving the valve 12 to the full line position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and in which position it will be retained by reason of the expansion of the slides 13, which latter frictionally engage the adjacent walls of the casing 5, in the manner before stated.

It will here be noted that that side of the hollow valve adjacent the pipe 7 is closed by one of the slides 13, while that portion of the hollow valve adjacent the supply pipe 10 is 0 en so that when the gas pressure is reduced t e valve will drop by gravity and automatically close the mouth of the pipe 7. It will also be noted that when the valve 12 is in the closed position indicated by the dotted line in Fig. 1 of the drawings, gas from the supply pipe 10 will pass through the port 19 and open side of the valve casing thus forcing the flexible slide 13 in engagement with the mouth of the fpipe 7 and effectually prevent the passage 0' gas through said pipe to the burner tips.

Threaded in one wall of the casing 6 is a service pipe 23 for sup lying gas to the several burner tips of a bui ding, the, inner end of the pipe being rojected a short distance within the cham er of the casing 6 and rovided with an inclined or beveled termina 24.

Pivotally mounted within the chamber 8 of the casing 6 is a flap valve 25 adapted to bear against the inclined terminal of the pipe 23 and automatically close the same when the gas pressure is reduced.

One wall of the casing 6 is provided with an enlargement 26 preferably inclined or beveled from the cap 9 towards the service pipe 23 so as to form a support for the valve 25 when gas is admitted from the chamber 8 of the casing 5 to the chamber 8 of the casing 6.

By making the inner face of the enlargement 26 inclined or beveled the, valve 25 will be supported in position to dro by gravity in engagement with the inclinec terminal 24 of the service pipe when the gas pressure is reduced.

As a means for elevating the valve 25 there is provided an operating lever 27 having a crank arm 28 which is operatively connected with the valve 25 so that by oscillatingthe lever 27 the valve will be moved from the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings to the full line position shown in said figure.

The operation of the device is as follows: The valve 11 is first moved to closed position after which the valve 18 is moved to 0 en position thus permitting the gas from t e pi e 10 to flow through the by-pass 17 into t e chamber 8 and elevate the valve 12, the pet cock 22 being previously opened to exhaust the air or gas in the chamber 8 above the valve so as to permit the latter to be moved to open or elevated position. The valve 18 is then closed and the valve 11 moved to 0 en position, the pressure of the gas flowing t rough the pipe 19 serving to move the valve 21 from the dotted line position shown in Fi l to the full line position shown in said igure thus permitting the gas to flow through the pipe 7 into the chamber 8" of the casing 6, it of course being understood that prior to the admission of gas into the casing 6 the valve 25 will be moved to open position by manipulating the lever 27, in the manner before stated. After the valve 12 has been elevated by the pressure of the gas the pet cook or vent 22 is closed, the valve being held in frictional contact with the interior walls of the casing 5 by the pressure of the gas entering the hollow chamber of the valve through the opening 16. With the several parts in this position should the supply of gas be accidentally cut off or the pressure reduced or partially reduced the valve 12 will drop by gravity thus automatically closing the valve 21 and the port of the pipe 7, the valve 25 at the same time being movable by gravity in engagement with the inclined terminal 24 of the service pipe so as to effectually prevent the passage of gas through the service pipe to the burner ti s.

In Fig. 5 of the drawings tiere is illustrated a modified form of the invention in which manual means are employed for moving the valve to elevated or open position. In this form of the device a rod 29 is mounted for sliding movement in a bushing 30 seated in the cap 9 of the casing 5, one end of the rod 29 being provided with a finger piece or handle 31, while the opposite end thereof is rovided with a curved head 32 adapted to bear against the base of the valve 12 and elevate the latter when an upward pressure is exerted on the finger piece 31. As the construction and operation of this form of the device is otherwise similar to that shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings further description thereof is deemed unnecessary.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

1. In an automatic cut off, a casing having fluid inlet and discharge pipes, a by-pass forming a source of communication between one of said pipes and the interior of the easing, a valve arranged within the casing and rovided with expansible wallsadapted to frictionally enga e the interior walls of the casing for norma ly su porting the valve in 0 en position, said va ve bein actuated to c ose the other pipe upon a re notion in the fluid ressure.

2. n an automatic cut off a casing having fluid inlet and discharge pipes, a by-pass forming a source of communication between the fluid supply pipe and the interior of the casing, turning plugs connected in the bypass and fluid supply pipe, respectively, a valve slidably mounte. 1n the casing and having expansible walls actuated by the pressure of the fluid to frictionally engage the interior walls of the casing for supporting the valve in open position, sald valve being actuated to close the discharge pipe upon a reduction in the fluid pressure.

3. In an automatic cut off, a casing having fluid inlet and discharge pipes, a pet cook disposed at one end of the casing, a by-pass forming a source of communication between the opposite end of the casing and the supply pipe, a valve having expansible walls actuated by the pressure of the fluid to frictionally engage the adjacent walls of the casing to normally hold the valve in open position, said valve being movable by gravity to automatically close the discharge pipe upon a reduction in the fluid pressure.

4. In an automatic cut off, a casing having fluid inlet and discharge pipes, a pet cock communicating with the interior of the cas-v ing at one end thereof, a valve slidably mounted in the casing and having its up er end closed and its lower end open, said va ve being provided with removable slides actuated by'the fluid to frictionally engage the interior walls of the casing for supporting the valve in open position, said valve being movable to closed position upon a reduction in the fluid pressure.

5. In an automatic out ofl, a casing having fluid inlet and discharge pipes, a pet cock communicating with the interior of the casing at one end thereof, a valve slidably mounted within the casing and provided with eXpansible walls movable into frictional engagement with the interior walls of the casing by the fluid pressure, said valve being movable by gravity to automatically cut off the flow of fluid through the discharge pipe upon a reduction of the fluid pressure, and an auxiliary valve pivotally mounted within the casing and adapted to close the supply pipe when the valve is in closed position.

6. In an automatic out off, a casing having fluid supply and discharge pipes, a valve disposed within the casing and havin eX- pansible walls movable into frictiona engagement with the interior walls of the casing by the pressure of the fluid, said valve being movable to automatically cut off the flow of fluid through the discharge pipe upon a reduction in the fluid pressure, and means for moving the valves to open position after a reduction in the fluid pressure.

7. In an automatic cut off, a casing having fluid inlet and discharge pi es, a hollow valve slidably mounted within t e casing and having its side walls provided with removable slides formed of eXpansible material, said slides being movable into frictional contact with the interior walls of the casing by the pressure of the fluid, said valve having its upper end closed and its lower end provided with an o ening to admit fluid to the interior of the va vs.

8. In an automatic cut oil", a casing having fluid inlet and discharge pipes, a hollow valve disposed within the casing and provided with vertically disposed openings, the walls of which are under out, eXpansible slides engaging the under out walls of the valve, said slides being actuated by the fluid to frictionally engage the interior walls of the casing for sup orting the valve in open position, said valve being actuated by gravity to automatically cut off the passage of fluid through the discharge pipe upon a reduction in the fluid pressure.

9. In an automatic cut off, communicating casings, one of which is connected with a fluid supply pipe and the other with a service pipe, a by-pass forming a source of communication between the fluid supply pipe and the interior of the fluid supply casing, and a valve slidably mounted within the last mentioned casing and having eXpansible walls actuated by the fluid pressure to frictionally engage the interior of said fluid supply casing for sup orting the valve in open position, said va ve being actuated by gravity to automatically cut ofl communication between said casings upon a reduction in the fluid pressure.

10. In an automatic cut off, communicating casings, one of which is connected with a fluid supply pipe and the other with a service pipe, a valve slidably mounted in the fluid supply casing, a by-pass forming a source of communication between the interior of the last mentioned casing and the supply pipe, turnin plugs for controlling the flow of fluid throng 1 the supply pipe and byass, respectively, and a valve for contro ling the passage of fluid into the service pipe.

11. In an automatic cut off, spaced casings, an inclined pipe connecting said casings, a supply pipe communicating with the interior of one of the casings, a service pipe eX- tended within the other casing and having its inner end inclined, the interior wall of the service pipe casing being inclined in the direction of said service pipe, a valve for controlling the passage of fluid through said service pipe, a by-pass forming a source of communication between the fluid supply pipe and the interior of the fluid supply casing, a valve operating within the last mentioned casing and provided with eXpansible walls ada ted to frictionally engage the interior walls of said fluid supply casing for holding the valve in open position, said valve being movable automatically to closed position upon a reduction in the fluid ressure. MARCUS F. NIIBHOLS. Witnesses:

FRANK AYERS, AsA BURDETT QUIMBY. 

